Orbital [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED]

Orbital

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 12, 1992)
• Original Release Date: October 1991
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued
• Label: Rhino / Wea
• ASIN: B00004T6UY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #28,696 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Belfast

2. Moebius

3. Speed Freak

4. Fahrenheit 3D3

5. Desert Storm

6. Oolaa

7. Chime

8. Satan

9. Choice

10. Midnight

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

In the late 1980s, as American house and techno imports flooded Britain and the Acid House movement was sweeping the nation, brothers Paul and Phil Hartnoll were busy building Britain's own interpretation of the sound. Named for the illegal "Orbital" raves taking place on London's M1, they dragged their equipment from party to party, playing live PAs of their homegrown dance music to enthusiastic crowds of revelers. Their 1990 single "Chime" was (and still is) the anthem of many a British raver, and their self-titled 1991 debut remains a classic. Opening with the exquisite mid-tempo anthem "Belfast," and containing the "Chime," "Satan," and "Fahrenheit 303" singles, this album captures the innocence and energy of the nascent rave scene. --Matthew Corwine

Amazon.com

Orbital kick ambient house to a new plateau with a hypnotic 65-minute session that bubbles with dance beats and invention. "Halcyon" (featuring U.K. band Opus III) and "Remind" are the standouts. --Jeff Bateman

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dance-hall trendsetters, June 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Orbital (Audio CD)

This is a response to the reviewer from Montreal; the reason that you have heard these sounds prior to hearing this album is likely because you've listened to the artists who ripped them off. Look at the date of the release and then judge again. This album was one of the first to break from the thumping of early techno, proving that dance music could indeed have depth and a soul to it. Along with Richard James (AFX), Orbital were among the first to experiment with a mix of up-tempo techno breaks with ambient soundscapes; given its release date, it's easy to understand why this album contains more the former and less the latter. Were this album released today, it would not be as impressive as it is, becuase many additional artists have directed their attempts at melding these seemingly incongruous musical styles; however, this would be impossible, given that the Hartnoll's have been responisble for a large part of ambient techno's direction (and electronica in general's direction)since this was first cut. True, the Hartnoll's have progressed a great distance from this early release, but that is the nature of great musicians. They have proven their merits by building upon their early successes. I still love this album, much as I do the brown album, for the originality it encapsulates; all those who've attempted since this release have not been able to produce as intriguing a mix of high-energy dance-hall techno with Phillip Glass-style introspection. Eons after its release (given the youth of this genre), this album is still brilliant and has, I would contend, not aged at all.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, April 27, 2002

By	Tracher (Skopje, Macedonia) - See all my reviews

It's just not the Orbital I'm used to. The album, also known as the 'Green Album', is actually a collection of singles and tracks made from 1989 to 1991. I don't want to be taken wrongly - this is a good album. There are 'Satan', 'Chime', 'Belfast' and 'Midnight'. These are great songs that are "carrying" the Orbital trademark that the latter albums have. And taking a closer listen, well... it doesn't have the emotions and the "atmospheric landscape sound" of like, let's say 'In-Sides' and 'Orbital 2'.

If you're an Orbital fan and don't have the 'Green Album', than don't hesitate for a minute - this is a must have, so you'll be able to listen to the early sound (late 80's/early 90's) of Orbital's work. But not a good place for a start; rather than this get the two albums I mentioned earlier ('I-S' and 'O2') to get the full listening pleasure of the ethereal music of the Hartnoll brothers.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In the beginning, January 12, 2003

By A Customer

Although this album has some moments that are less than exciting, people should realise that the US version includes Chime, Satan and Belfast, which are 3 of electronic music's best known anthems. In general the album mirrors the house/rave scene that the band were emerging from. They were to grow up to be the one electronic band that commanded respect, both in the studio and in their live shows, from every part of the music media.
This album is the start of a very special band indeed.